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Kalsang Doma, 33, came to Canada in 2001 as a Nepal-born Tibetan refugee after studying at a community college in Seattle, Wash. Her parents, who had a carpet business, were part of a wave of Tibetans who eventually settled in Nepal after the Chinese takeover. As a child, she studied at a Protestant boarding school in Mussoorie in northern India. In Canada, she worked in factories and as a motel cleaner. Today, now a Canadian citizen, she works as registered practical nurse at a geriatric psychiatric ward at a Toronto hospital. This interview has been edited and condensed.

Q: Why did you decide to immigrate?

A: A close friend from school was in Canada. She told me, “Kalsang, you should come to Canada. They’re accepting Tibetan refugees. You can stand on your own feet.” All I knew was I wanted to stand on my own feet and to do things on my own and not have to depend on people. It wasn’t that I had a vision for Canada.

Q: Did your friends tell you anything about it here?

A: Not really. When you’re a refugee you don’t really question things. You just go where the tide takes you. Because you’re never really rooted anywhere. Wherever you go becomes your home.

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Q: What has been your worst experience here?

A: The worst thing was that we had these door-to-door salespeople come. You know immigrants, we’re very naive. So we’re very vulnerable. Even if I was educated, I’m still naive. I’m still an immigrant in this country. I’m learning everything new in this country. They said they were part of Toronto Hydro. I never thought someone would come to the door, have a badge and lie about something. They said they’re going to give me a 10 per cent discount. I ended up signing a contract. Basically they were not with Toronto Hydro and . . . so for the next five years my bill was double the amount. After that I became really paranoid about people. I don’t open my doors to anybody. I don’t pick up phone calls. That experience really opened my eyes to people.

Q: Does anything stand out that’s exceptional in Canada?

A: I love the fact that health care is free, although there are pros and cons. But I love the idea that if somebody gets sick, no matter how much money they make, there will be help out there for them.

Q: What do you think about Toronto?

A: I like Toronto. I think it would be what everybody says: different cultural backgrounds all living together.

Q: What did you think of the weather?

A: The weather was a big deal for me. I don’t like winter. I don’t like snow. I find the cold very limiting. I can’t do much when it’s cold. Just stay at home. Nepal is not bad, actually. Throughout the year, it’s kind of warm. It’s only if you stay in the mountains, then it’s kind of cold there.

Q: What did you think when you first saw snow?

A: I thought it looks really pretty, but it’s not fun to be walking in the snow. It looks good from the inside.

Q: What would you advise other immigrants coming here?

A: There’s a lot of power in knowledge and education. I would highly recommend anyone interested in coming to Canada (to) educate themselves about the country — don’t be shy. If you need to get help, go out there, research and find out there are different places to get help. Educate yourself, be knowledgeable about your surroundings and . . . life will be more fulfilling and less depressing.

Q: How did it feel to get your Canadian citizenship?

A: I can finally say I belong somewhere in a sense that I have a paper. That was a great feeling . . . Just to be able to hold something, a tangible, that says, “Yeah, I belong to a specific place.”

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